Von Miller has grown up since six-game suspension last season

Josh Gordon is facing a raised level of punishment to a full-season suspension, and reflexively minds relate to Miller.

So far, there are encouraging signs suggesting Miller, the Broncos' star linebacker, is not another Smith, the troubled San Francisco 49ers' pass rusher, or Gordon, the Cleveland Browns' dynamic but embattled receiver.

Miller seems to have grown up from last year's misadventures. There seems to be a peace about him that allows his amiable, fun-loving personality to ooze through, again, after his guard went up last year when the NFL suspended him for six games.

"When you've been in an adverse situation like I've been in before," Miller said as he walked toward the Broncos locker room Wednesday, "and come out of all that and still be able to achieve everything that I've achieved to this point, it definitely makes you grateful for the things you have."

Can Miller assure the Broncos he won't become another Smith or Gordon? Smith and Gordon are facing lengthy suspensions because of alleged alcohol and marijuana-related incidents, respectively.

"I can't stand here and say, 'Oh, don't worry about me,' " Miller said. "There's nothing I can say about it. I have to do it, and that's proven over time. I could say something as I'm standing here and tomorrow do something crazy. It takes time. I'm not a big fan of making promises — although I did last year with the Super Bowl. Came close, too."

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Before his troubles hit last year, Miller guaranteed a Super Bowl victory for the Broncos. The team got there, but got blown out by Seattle. It didn't help that Miller couldn't play.

The personal choices Miller made that put him in violation of the NFL's substance-abuse policy and got him suspended for the first six games might be an issue that never fully disappears. But there have been no more missteps since he served his time, and he is getting himself healthy.

His first two seasons with the Broncos couldn't have gone much better. He was the NFL's defensiverookie of the year in 2011, and became an all-pro with 18½ sacks and 28 tackles for loss in 2012. His third season couldn't have gone much worse. Besides the embarrassing headlines, Miller's maniacal work in the weight room led to a weight gain from his usual playing weight of 248 to 252 pounds to 270.

Aside from a dominant game at New England in late November, when he made two sacks and returned a fumble for a touchdown, Miller was not his usual disruptive self.

He made five sacks in essentially eight games, then sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament early in the Broncos' 15th game at Houston on Dec. 22, when his right knee buckled as he was fighting off a block.

"Last year, my body, I was great," Miller said. "I liked where I was. But it's just experimentation. That didn't work as well as I thought it would."

He is lighter now, as he must be during his recovery from his knee injury. Miller has been participating in individual and position drills during the Broncos' organized team activities, but while his teammates run 11-on-11 scrimmages, he joins defensive back Chris Harris, another ACL patient, on the side for knee-strengthening drills.

Miller probably will not be cleared for full contact until the middle part of training camp, but the plan is for him to play in the Broncos' season opener Sept. 7 against the Indianapolis Colts at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

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